LONDON (AFP) - The International Cricket Council (ICC) today named fiveformer Test cricketers to form a new panel of full-time match referees who will superintend all major matches around the world. As well as the new chief referee Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka), the panel includes Clive Lloyd (West Indies), Mike Procter (South Africa), Wasim Raja (Pakistan) and Gundappa Viswanath (India).

"This is an outstanding group of former internationals who are respected for their achievements throughout the cricket world," said ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed, in a statement issued from the governing body's headquarters at Lord's. "The combination of an excellent cricket pedigree and the ability to think and act decisively were the qualities required for the new role."

One name not included is current referee Mike Denness, 61, who was nominated by England. Former England captain Denness imposed penalties on six Indian players, including national hero Sachin Tendulkar, following the second Test in South Africa last year. The ensuing controversy almost led to the cancellation of England's subsequent tour of India.

The three-man commission due to investigate Denness's actions had its first meeting postponed last month following protests about its composition, led by India and supported by four other of the 10-Test playing nations - Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and South Africa.

However, Denness's age as much as his actions may have counted against him. ICC stressed today that the average age of the incoming panel, 51, was 10 years lower than that of the 20-man line-up that preceded it.

More than 30 candidates were interviewed by Madugalle during a recent worldwide recruitment tour.

Between them the new panel have played in almost 300 Test matches. Three of them - Lloyd, Madugalle and Viswanath - are former national captains, and Procter has been South Africa's coach.

The final selection was partly the responsibility of Sunil Gavaskar, in his role as chairman of the ICC's cricket committee - playing. He said: "This new panel is a tremendous group of former Test cricketers who I am sure will command the respect of teams around the world."

The panel members have agreed two-year, full-time contracts with the ICC and will meet for the first time at the Referees and Umpires Workshop near Cape Town on March 21-24.

The new panel replaces the 20 part-time referees who previously supervised international matches. Lloyd was an ICC match referee between 1992-93 and 1995-96 while Viswanath is a current member of the panel.

His appointment was made by Speed with recommendations from Madugalle. Gavaskar took no part in these discussions as he and Viswanath are brothers-in-law.

The new team will start work in April. ICC is due to announce the names of the eight members of the new elite panel of umpires early next week.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd